Food Explorers Club- Sweet Potato in Marshmallow Casserole and Cranberry Turkey Meatballs

Culinary Skills- During this class, the kids read and followed the recipe to prepare the casserole and Turkey Meatballs. Kids were provided with the recipe, cooking tools and ingredients to prepare the recipes by themselves. The goal was for kids to prepare the dish by working together as a team, without any assistant from the instructor. Before starting the preparation, kids read the recipe out loud beginning from ingredients followed by instructions. It was a delight seeing kids working together.

Nutrition Education- Our spotlight ingredient was Sweet Potato. Sweet Potato is a popular root vegetable consumed during the Fall season. The best part of this vegetable is it can either be eaten as part of our healthy dessert or as an entrée. Sweet potato can be consumed in various ways - Baked, Roasted, Mashed or Pureed into soup. Adding sweet potatoes to your meals can help you stay satisfied and provide you with a hefty dose of nutrients. Sweet potatoes are loaded with potassium, vitamin B6 and is also rich in the antioxidant beta-carotene. Sweet Potato, when compared with regular white potato, has more fiber and much higher nutritional benefits.

Working as a Team – Explore produce with your kids. Going to the grocery store and or farmer’s market with your kids gives them great opportunity to explore all the seasonal produce. Allowing children to have a say in what produce is picked, can be helpful in encouraging them to eat it once you are home.